Cuisine and Wines of Tuscany

This is a region where “La Dolce Vita” springs to mind as you look around at the wonderful landscape of olive groves, rolling hillsides blanketed in grape vines, lazy sheep idylly lolling about and smell the fragrant herbs that feature in many of the regions fantastic dishes. Tuscan cuisine is simple and uses products dictated by the seasons. Olive oil is highly prized and is used generously in cooking, salads and even just to dip chunks of crusty bread into. Many dishes are based around the profusion of vegetables grown in the area such as asparagus, fennel, peas, artickoes and wild mushrooms. White truffles are found in late autumn and can be found in risottos, pasta dishes and meat dishes. Meats include duck, rabbit, venison, pheasant, pork, wild boar and beef, the Chianina cattle are one of the world’s oldest breeds of cattle and also one of the largest, it is from these that we get the wonderful beef for the “bistece all fiorentina“, from Florence, a simple , thick beef T-bone steak cooked to perfection over coals. Tuscany produces many home-made sausages including those made with wild boar. Roast suckling pig or “porchetta” flavoured with rosemary and sage and having a crispy crackling served with pane.

Toscana is a simple yet gastronomic delight with ingredients such as game, fowl, pork and fish here are grown figs, chestnuts and pomegranates, what a wonderful selection of good foods from which one can create the best of dishes. Other dishes include pappardelle flat noodles served with a rich sauce and game, fritto misto, small bites of meats and vegetables dusted with flour and lightly fried, and Ribollita. Ribollita is a traditionally a Tuscan peasant dish and is a thick soup made from left overs, vegetables, beans and even bread go into this soup and then it is reheated as the name translates.

The simple way of grilling over hot coals is also reflected in the regions “bruschetta” the bread is drizzled with olive oil, rubbed with garlic, grilled and topped with a variety of simple but tasty toppings such as tomatoes, mushrooms or a sprinkle of cheese. The much coveted white truffle grows readily in San Miniato in October and November and is used to flavour risottos and oils. Beans are also a great favourite and many households have their own recipes handed down through the generations using the Barlotti beans and Cannellini beans which grow in nearly every vegetable garden. Regional cheeses are Pecorino Toscano and the soft cow’s milk Tendaio and the Accasciato cheese which is a mixture of sheep and cow’s milk.

Desserts of the region include “panforte“, a chewy, rich, Christmas cake from Sienna containing fruits, nuts and spices,”ricciarelli“, almond biscuits and “cavallucci” rustic, little, round cookies often given as gifts on special occasions, they contain honey, almonds, candied lemon and orange and spices. Cantucci, almond biscotti, are made here in Tuscany by hand and are the perfect accompaniment to a small glass of Vino Santo, a strong and very sweet wine, as the ideal finish to a delicious meal.

The most famous of all the wines of Tuscany is undoubtedly Chianti, well known world-wide.

List of Italian DOCG wines of Tuscany

Brunello di Montalcino (Rosso as normale and Riserva), produced in the province of Siena
Carmignano (Rosso as normale and Riserva), produced in the provinces of Firenze and Prato
Chianti (Rosso as normale and Riserva), produced in the provinces of Arezzo, Firenze, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato and Siena; with the option to indicate one of the sub-regions:Classico as normale and Riserva, produced in the provinces of Firenze and Siena
Colli Aretini as normale and Riserva produced in the province of Arezzo
Colli Senesi as normale and Riserva, produced in the province of Siena
Colli Fiorentini as normale and Riserva, produced in the province of Firenze
Colline Pisane as normale and Riserva, produced in the province of Pisa
Montalbano as normale and Riserva, produced in the provinces of Firenze, Pistoia and Prato
Montespertoli as normale and Riserva, produced in the province of Pisa
Rufina as normale and Riserva, produced in the province of Firenze
Chianti Superiore, produced throughout the Chianti region with the exception of the classico sub-region.
Morellino di Scansano (Rosso as normale and Riserva), produced in the province of Grosseto
Vernaccia di San Gimignano (Bianco as normale and Riserva), produced in the province of Siena
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (Rosso as normal and Riserva), produced in the province of Siena

List of Italian DOC wines of Tuscany

Ansonica Costa dell’Argentario produced in the province of Grosseto
Barco Reale di Carmignano produced in the provinces of Firenze and Prato
Bianco della Valdinievole produced in the province of Pistoia
Bianco dell’Empolese produced in the provinces of Firenze and Pistoia
Bianco di Pitigliano produced in the province of Grosseto
Bianco Pisano di San Torpè produced in the province of Pisa
Bianco Vergine della Valdichiana produced in the provinces of Arezzo and Siena
Bolgheri produced in the province of Livorno
Candia dei Colli Apuani produced in the province of Massa-Carrara
Capalbio produced in the province of Grosseto
Colli dell’Etruria Centrale produced in the provinces of Arezzo, Firenze, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato and Siena
Colli di Luni an inter-regional DOC produced in the provinces of Massa-Carrara (Toscana) and of La Spezia (Liguria)
Colline Lucchesi produced in the province of Lucca
Cortona produced in the province of Arezzo
Elba produced in the province of Livorno
Maremma Toscana produced in the province of Grosseto
Montecarlo produced in the province of Lucca
Montecucco produced in the province of Grosseto
Monteregio di Massa Marittima produced in the province of Grosseto
Montescudaio produced in the provinces of Livorno and Pisa
Morellino di Scansano produced in the province of Grosseto
Moscadello di Montalcino produced in the province of Siena
Orcia produced in the province of Siena
Parrina produced in the province of Grosseto
Pomino produced in the province of Firenze
Rosso di Montalcino produced in the province of Siena
Rosso di Montepulciano produced in the province of Siena
San Gimignano produced in the province of Siena
Sant’Antimo produced in the province of Siena
Sovana produced in the province of Grosseto
Val d’Arbia produced in the province of Siena
Val di Cornia produced in the provinces of Livorno and Pisa
Vin Santo del Chianti produced in the provinces of Arezzo, Firenze, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato and Siena
Vin Santo del Chianti Classico produced in the provinces of Firenze and Siena
Vin Santo di Montepulciano produced in the province of Siena